SWEETS AND PARTY SPACE — Members of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and local leaders welcomed Tink’s Treats and Tink’s Party Place, two new businesses at 4227 Mall Drive in the Tri-State Plaza, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Tink’s Treats offers a variety of custom-made chocolates and other sweets, while Tink’s Party Place offers space for children’s birthday parties and other private celebrations seven days a week. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — A new business venture aimed at putting smiles on the faces of people of all ages has opened its doors 4227 Mall Drive in the Rural King Plaza.

The location actually houses two businesses: Tink’s Party Place, which offers space for children’s birthday parties and other private celebrations, and Tink’s Treats, which sells an assortment of custom-made chocolates and other sweets designed to serve as unique gifts.

Kerrie Duncan, their owner, said with space for up to 120 people, Tink’s Party Place is available for various types of celebrations seven days a week.

Duncan said she can handle everything from decorating the space to ordering the food and enjoys planning activities for children around certain themes.

A junior spa for little girls, superheroes gala for young boys and black-light settings for pre-teens are among the many approaches she has taken.

“We also like to do all-inclusive themes,” said Duncan.

Tink’s Party Place also offers assorted balloons and balloon arches that can be delivered to other party locations.

Duncan also has been quite creative with the boxes of custom-made chocolates sold by Tink’s Treats, using molds to create chocolate “cosmetic kits” and “toolboxes” and other shapes appealing to specific interests.

Tink’s Treats include milk chocolate and white chocolate Oreo pink hearts and heart-shaped cocoa bombs, suited for Valentine’s Day and other occasions; specially shaped lollipops and chocolate-coated Rice Krispies treats and candy bouquets.

Chocolates are nothing new for Duncan, who grew up around her grandmother and aunt, who ran chocolate and ice cream shops in Bloomingdale and Toronto.

Duncan also owned and operated Sweets ‘n Treats in Wintersville for 20 years.

Life took her for a while to Florida, where she met her husband, Roman. A desire to be close to her daughter and a new grandchild brought them to Steubenville.

Duncan is aided at the shop by her daughter, Chelsea Bake, and Camille Price, her son’s girlfriend, and often by her granddaughter, Adriana.

Grandchildren have been an important part of Duncan’s life. The shop itself is named for another granddaughter, Sophia, who was killed in a car accident at the age of 8.

Duncan said she often referred to her as Tink because of her love for the Peter Pan character, Tinkerbelle, and the store’s logo also includes angel wings in her honor.

Tink’s Treats is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Appointments for Tink’s Party Place can be made by calling (740) 792-6070.

Both businesses have Facebook pages and a combined website at tinkstreats.com.